Player-avatar interactions in habitual and problematic gaming: A qualitative investigation

Abstract

Background and aimsPrevious studies have reported that stronger avatar identification and negative self-concept are associated with gaming disorder (GD). This study aimed to examine the value and significance of avatars based on firsthand accounts from regular and problematic gamers, and to identify any potential links between avatar-related experiences and excessive gaming.MethodsAn online survey of 993 adult gamers yielded 3,972 text responses. Qualitative analysis of 59,059 words extracted 10 categories of avatar-related perspectives.ResultsSome problem and non-problem gamers employed sentimental language (e.g., ‘dear friend’, ‘like a child’, ‘part of my soul’) to refer to their avatar. However, most participants perceived avatars as a means of achieving in-game goals and enabling greater interactivity (e.g., socializing). When asked to reflect on hypothetically losing their avatar, participants generally anticipated feeling temporary frustration or annoyance due to lost time and effort invested into the avatar. Although some participants reported that their avatar ‘mattered’, avatars were often considered as superficial (‘just pixels’) and peripheral to the primary reinforcement of achieving in-game rewards and objectives. Some broader psychological and identity issues such as gender dysphoria, rather than ‘addiction’, were cited as motivating persistent avatar-related interactions and attachment.Discussion and conclusionsParticipants reported diverse views on the psychological value and function of avatars, but the relationship between avatars and problematic gaming or GD was largely unclear or inconsistent, and refuted by some participants. Future research with clinical samples may lead to a better understanding of player-avatar processes, including whether avatar-stimuli facilitate the development of maladaptive gaming habits, particularly among psychologically vulnerable players. Future investigations should be mindful of ‘overpathologizing’ avatar-related phenomena and recognize their important role in socializing, storytelling, and creative expression among gamers.

The serial mediation effects of body image-coping strategies and avatar-identification in the relationship between self-concept clarity and gaming disorder: A pilot study

“…Although the participants of this study did not show high levels of GD, the current findings provide insight into the risk of GD ( Liew et al, 2018 , Teng, 2017 ). As previous evidence suggests, avatar-identification is not the main factor for GD, but in many cases often represents the exciting side of gaming ( Casale et al, 2022 , Green et al, 2021a , Green et al, 2021b ). Therefore, the player-avatar bond increases the risk of developing gaming addiction, and other variables should be considered in this relationship.…”

“…In line with prior studies (e.g., Green et al, 2021b;Šporčić & Glavak-Tkalić, 2018), a negative correlation between SCC and GD was found. Lower levels of SCC predicted high GD, and provided evidence that players with a less clear self-concept play videogames to achieve a temporary sense of certainty, stability, identity, and control that is often lacking in other areas of their lives (Green et al, 2021a;Lemenager et al, 2020). This result could be interpreted in the framework of selfdiscrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987), suggesting that virtual identities are used by individuals who lack self-concept as a strategy to compensate for their body dissatisfaction, which could contribute to increasing their avatar-identification, and they could become at-risk of GD (Szolin et al, 2022;Teng, 2017).…”

“…This vicarious experience is an attempt to satisfy the player's identity need since they are motivated to generate an avatar that is better than the actual self, and could increase the risk of GD (Green et al, 2021b;Lemenager et al, 2020;Mancini et al, 2019;Szolin et al, 2022). More specifically, low levels of SCC may be responsible for higher avatar-identification which, in turn, is predictive of GD (Green et al, 2021a;Sioni et al, 2017;Šporčić & Glavak-Tkalić, 2018). Although the participants of this study did not show high levels of GD, the current findings provide insight into the risk of GD (Liew et al, 2018;Teng, 2017).…”

“…The popularity of online gaming can be partially attributed to the rapid growth of technological development (Brand et al, 2020;Castro-Calvo et al, 2021;Griffiths, 2022;Higuchi, Nakayama, Matsuzaki, Mihara, & Kitayuguchi, 2021;Stavropoulos, Kuss, Griffiths, Wilson, & Motti-Stefanidi, 2017;Teng, Pontes, Nie, Griffiths, & Guo, 2021). A popular practice in online gaming is the creation of an avatar, a digital self-representation of the user on-screen, which enables players to interact and communicate in shared digital environments (Blasi et al, 2019;Green et al, 2021a;Liew et al, 2018). The extent to which players feel a physical and emotional connection with their avatar has been suggested as a risk factor for GD (Casale et al, 2022).…”

“…As such, avatar identification is one of the main elements that greatly affect gamers’ psychological experience ( Klimmt et al, 2009 ). On the other hand, qualitative research suggests players tend to express their disapproval when asked for their opinions concerning avatars since they consider avatars a way of achieving in-game goals ( Green et al, 2021a ). Moreover, recent systematic reviews have reported a moderate relationship between avatar-identification and GD ( Green et al, 2021b , Lemenager et al, 2020 , Szolin et al, 2022 ).…”